Infrastructure Surcharge - update on advocacy activity

As outlined in last weeks' member notice, the Victorian government commissioned a Port Pricing and Access Review led by Deloitte Access – a summary of the formal submission prepared by Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) is available HERE

In response to follow up member enquiries, below is a snapshot on what's happening in other FTA / APSA advocacy activity on this matter:

• Melbourne - Sean Richards (APSA Chair and EM Visy Logistics) and I are scheduled to meet Roma Britnell MP (Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight and Member for Warrnambool) in Melbourne on 12 November 2019 to elaborate on matters raised in the FTA / APSA submission.  
• Fremantle – correspondence has been sent to the Fremantle Port Corporation advocating constraint on the surge in Infrastructure Surcharges with the signing of stevedoring leases.   
• Sydney – a contingent of FTA / APSA members met with The Hon. Andrew Constance (Minister for Transport and Roads and Member for Bega) on 12 August 2019 – this has resulted in a scheduled meeting on 5 November 2019 with Peter Achterstraat AM (NSW Productivity Commissioner) 
• National - we have maintained our engagement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and understand that they are getting to the pointy end of drafting up the 2018-19 stevedoring monitoring report. This year it looks likely to be released in early November 2019 and we trust that findings will continue to support for our advocacy activity.

Paul Zalai - FTA / APSA